Hi, I’m Deidra and I suffer from a lot of things :)
Oily skin
Dry skin
Dry lips
Hyperpigmentation
And as a woman about to officially exit her twenties, I decided to finally invest in my skincare.
The only problem was that this wasn’t my niche and I had no idea where to even start. So I did what any sane person does these days and turned to the world wide web for answers.
"I don’t typically suffer from acne. I have a combination skin type (oily t-zone + bone dry skin everywhere else). My main goal is to stay hydrated and moisturized.”
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“Oh I also want products that can help with both hyperpigmentation and dry lips.”
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here were the recommendations + my honest opinions
as someone who isn’t a skincare fanatic but simply wants the look and feel of having a hydrated, moisturized face
(important note: I have been using these products for about a month now)
Anua Heartleaf 77+
Soothing Toner
what it’s meant to do: hydrate the skin
my current review: it’s a good first base that gets the skin prepped
* morning + night
Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
what it’s meant to do: hydrate + add a plumping effect leaving the skin feeling and looking “glowy”
my current review: it’s smooth and another good base prep for the skin
* morning + night
Anua Heartleaf 70+ Daily Lotion
what it’s meant to do: deep hydration + moisturization
my current review: my favorite moisturizer! It gives my face that look and feel I wanted!!
* morning + night
Penta Berry Panthenol Repair Lip Treatment
(anua pdrn lip serum was recommended but out of stock at the store so penta berry it is)
what it’s meant to do: moisturize + repair dry lips
my current review: I have mixed reviews. You can definitely feel it on your lips which I think I am actually starting to like because you get that sense that it’s doing what it needs to do. But in the same breath, it doesn’t feel like it lasts long on the lips which is a downside for me.
(I used to use Vaseline but it seemed to stop working for me. And apparently after doing some research that’s because Vaseline is great at locking in existing moisture and since that’s something my lips were lacking, it just kind of sat there. Whereas the lip treatment infuses hydration so a must for me)
* morning + night
Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream (SPF 50+)
(recommended as an addition to my main goal)
what it’s meant to do: moisturize + protect the skin
my current review: it’s an amazing sunscreen that truly feels lightweight and doesn’t leave any white streaks behind (guam heat is no joke so a much needed daily addition)
* morning only
Anua Niacinamide 10+ TXA 4 Serum
what it’s meant to do: helps reduce melanin production + fade hyperpigmentation
my current review: only time can tell with this one.. as a brown girl, hyperpigmentation is one of my biggest insecurities so it’s a work in progress. I’ve been using it nightly on concentrated areas and will need to come back for an update on this one.
* night only
a quick recap
The recommended routine that I have been using + the order in which I use them:
Morning:
anua heartleaf 77+ soothing toner
anua pdrn hyaluronic acid capsule 100 serum
anua heartleaf 70+ daily lotion
anua heartleaf silky moisture sun cream (spf 50+)
penta berry panthenol repair lip treatment
Night:
anua heartleaf 77+ soothing toner
anua pdrn hyaluronic acid capsule 100 serum
anua heartleaf 70+ daily lotion
anua niacinamide 10+ txa 4 serum
penta berry panthenol repair lip treatment
I am a life long learner so please share any recommendations you might have for my combination skin type so I can keep building a better skincare routine that can become my tried and true — my daily go tos — all the things.
I would genuinely love to hear them all! + i’ll see y’all in the next one :)
You can also follow me on Instagram & YouTube (@xdeidralee) where I share bits + pieces of life, business + travel.
Speaking of travel, I also help plan + book travel plans for free and you can reach me at deidra.martinez@fora.travel!!!